Two teens arrested after home invasion robbery of elderly San Bernardino man

SAN BERNARDINO - Two teens were arrested by police in their home Wednesday after allegedly assaulting and robbing an elderly man in his home.

Police say the two teens, one a 14-year-old girl and one a 15-year-old boy, knocked on the door of 74-year-old Verlee Butler, in the 2300 block of North Windsor Avenue in San Bernardino, shortly before 5 p.m. Monday.

When Butler opened his door, police said the two teens struck him, sending him to the ground. Once in the home they reportedly continued to strike him with their fists.

Butler suffered multiple non-life threatening injuries.

"They took cash and coins from the home then fled," police Sgt. Tim Crocker said. "Mr. Butler was treated at the scene by paramedics and refused to go to the hospital."

The two teens were identified and arrested without incident, police said. They were being held in Juvenile Hall in San Bernardino.

"This seems to have become a trend," Crocker said, referring to violence against the elderly. "And we're working to stop it."

In November, Mary Beth Blaskey, 76, was found dead in her ransacked Fremontia Drive home.

Her 2001 Lexus ES300 was missing. Police later found the vehicle abandoned on the northeast end of town.

Blaskey's case is one of three involving seniors, which led police to offer a $30,000 reward for information leading to arrests.

Seniors were among victims in four recent burglary incidents on the north end of town. In those incidents, two seniors were injured.

On Jan. 18, in the 1900 block West Ash Street, officers responded to a burglary in progress.

A man entered a residence through an unsecured window while the homeowner was asleep.

The resident woke up to see the man attempting to remove property from the home.

The burglar fled, leaving the property behind.

On Jan. 19, an 84-year-old woman was hospitalized after a man beat her and her husband, a World War II veteran, in their 40th Street home, then fleeing with valuables, money and an antique pistol.

On Jan. 20, a 77-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint in her home in the 3700 block of North Mayfield Avenue.

On Jan. 25, A wheelchair-bound elderly woman woke up to two men ransacking her home.

That incident happened shortly after 5 a.m. in the 1400 block of North Flores Street, police said.

Police say residents should secure their homes before going to sleep and be aware of people walking in their neighborhoods, ringing doorbells, knocking on doors and entering a neighbor's property.

Call 9-1-1 immediately and provide a description of suspicious people and the direction they're moving in, police said.

If alone, and there is someone unknown at the door, be sure to let them know someone is inside. Say something, but don't open door.

Anyone having any information regarding the homev invasion cases is asked to call police Detective Houser at 909-384-5616 or Sgt. Crocker at 909-384-5613.